The group in the kitchen was soon joined by the rest of *NSYNC all coming in from various directions. Lance looked awake and refreshed, JC looked as if he had spent the night on the couch, and Justin ambled down the stairs a few minutes later. His hair was flying off in every direction and his track pants were twisted side ways. Jamie felt herself get hot when she noticed him and the fact that he wasn’t wearing a shirt didn’t help.
“Good morning sunshine!” Joey slapped Justin on the back and earned himself a few swears and the middle finger. The rest of the group laughed as Lance leaned over and whispered in Jamie’s ear.
“Justin isn’t a morning person. He’s usually an ass hole until about 6 at night, so don’t take any of it personally. He’s just got a grudge against the rest of the world until about 5 gallons of coffee have filtered through his system.” Jamie let out a small chuckle to hide her unease with the situation. She was so puzzled that someone that could be so rude set off such a reaction inside of her. She chalked it up to her taste in horrible men, and decided to stop letting this one get to her. She excused herself from the group and went out through the French doors the led to the lake. Everyone watched as she left, including Justin.
As soon as the door closed, conversation returned to normal around him, but Justin’s eyes followed Jamie. She wore very short shorts, that accented her long, tan legs, and her tank top gave the smallest hint at the incredible stomach that lay underneath. He watched as she found her way to the dock, and sat down one knee bent to her chest, the other leg dangling just above the water. She just sat there and looked out over the lake and he wondered what she was thinking. He knew he hadn’t been very welcoming last night, but he didn’t know how to sort out the emotions that she created inside of him. He sighed and downed the rest of his coffee and finished off the toast that he had been eating. Now wasn’t the time to wonder about the female species, he’d have the rest of his life to figure that one out. No, right now was the time for a bathroom break, coffee made him have to go pee.
Chris made his way down to the dock and found Jamie sitting there, just as she had been a few hours ago.
“Hey James, we have the studio for today, if you want to go in and play around. Today I’ll show you the ropes, and how everything will work, and maybe we can try and work out a few songs.” Jamie nodded and took hold of the hand Chris offered to help herself up. When she was standing she brushed herself off and they made their way back inside.
“I’m going to grab some shoes, and I’ll be back down in a minute.” Chris shook his head in understanding as he listened for an answer on his cell phone.
“Tim? Yea, it’s Chris. I’m taking Jamie over to the studio today; we’ll be in Studio 12. I don’t think we’re going anywhere else, so I won’t need you, but if we do I’ll call.” He talked for a few more seconds and just as he hung up Jamie re-emerged from the stairs. “Let’s go.” He waved her over and they walked outside to Chris’ car.
The ride over was silent for the most part, Chris could tell that there was something on Jamie’s mind.
“What are you thinking?” He asked as they made their way to the studio. She was quiet for a second before answering.
“Oh…I’m just taking it all in. This is all so new to me, you know?” She kept her eyes fixed on the window as they made their way over Orlando’s streets.
“I know exactly what you’re feeling. I’ve been there.”
“When did y’all get together?” She asked, turning to look at the stout man across from her.
“In 1995. We went over to Europe for a while, before putting out our music in the states.” He gave a vague description, assuming that she had heard it all before.
“Really? That’s interesting. What have you put out for songs?” She asked. Chris’ gaze flew in her direction and he studied her face. The look he got was pure interest, and there was no sarcasm, or even a hint of laughter in the question. She was serious.
“We…ah…we mostly sing a pop and r & b mix. Have you ever heard any of our music?” He tried not to sound conceited. He just wasn’t expecting her to know nothing about *NSYNC at all. To his knowledge most females east and west of the Mississippi had some inkling as to who they were. It was just a shock to meet someone that knew nothing. It was somewhat refreshing.
“No…My…ah…my dad and I don’t have a radio, so I don’t get to listen to music that often. I have an old tape player, so I’ll play some of my mom’s old tapes, and my grandmother’s. And sometimes I could buy used tapes at yard sales.” She spoke softly, as if embarrassed by her confession. Chris’ heart went out to her. He knew what it was like to have no money, and he knew what if felt like to be surrounded by people that were much better off than you.
“That’s great. You know, I didn’t even have a radio for a while. I finally got one when I was a teenager, and I fell in love with my Mom’s old Beatles records.” Jamie glanced at him and sized up his words.
“You didn’t have a radio? But you have a huge house, and…” She trailed off, realizing how rude she was sounding.
“I didn’t always have that house, James. I used to live in a trailer. Sometime I didn’t even have that luxury. It was sketchy sometimes, if we would have food. I know what poverty is like. But listen…Just because you happen to come from a humble background doesn’t mean you don’t have what it takes. Remember that…Okay?” She answered back with a weak OK and then settled into her seat. There had been a new bond formed between the pair. An understanding of sorts, and Jamie suddenly felt less alone. She knew that she had found a friend in Chris, and she was happy to have discovered this early on.
Jamie and Chris spent the remainder of the afternoon in the studio, playing around. Jamie put down a few vocals, just to see how everything worked, and what it sounded like. JC stopped in and came up with a few hooks. They toiled with the sound board, and Jamie sang a few random songs, just to see what recording was like. After deciding it was time to leave, JC went his separate way, and James and Chris got into his car. He had watched her closely during the day, gauging her reactions. It was strange to watch her face light up at different ideas, and know that only a few years before, he had looked the exact same way. He saw a passion in her that reminded him somewhat of himself, and even of his four band mates. It was a bit bizarre, because he could pick out a little of each in her. She had that invisible drive that seemed to posses JC; She had sweet southern charm and a very responsible attitude that spoke only of Lance; She was a happy person, and she always seemed to smile, like Joey; She had so many ideas that she didn’t know what to think first, and Chris chuckled when he realized he was the exact same way. And that left Justin. Jamie had eyes that spoke volumes, just like his younger friend. She was quiet at times, hashing out her problems and thoughts in her head, keeping them to herself until she felt she had control of them. In these aspects she reminded him of Justin, and his other friends.
Sighing he pulled back into the parking lot at WEG. Joey was outside with and his brother Steve and a few of their friends. They were all sitting around the pool and laughing, enjoying the warm Orlando sun. When they stepped out of the car Joey waved at them and called them over.
“I think I’m just going to go inside. I have a bit of a headache; tell Joey I’m sorry I just don’t feel up to a party right now.” Chris watched as Jamie made her way inside. He shook his head and then went over to the group of people, losing himself in the music and excitement of the atmosphere.
